Opening night has come and gone and people love Nabucco! Our wonderful photographer David Bachman has made this epic poster to help advertise! Please visit www.pittsburghopera.org for ticket info. 3 shows left!

So much has happened in the last month and I can't believe I haven't updated! First and foremost I finished my first year as a Resident Artist with Pittsburgh Opera. It was one of the most intense 9 months of my life and I wouldn't have traded it for anything. I feel I have learned more in this first year than I have in quite a long time. Next season holds some really exciting things for me so stay tuned!

After our final concert here in Pittsburgh I went home to Tacoma, WA to sing for Tacoma Opera's end of the year fundraiser. I was fortunate enough to get to sing with my friend, tenor Brendan Tuohy. Tacoma Opera is the company where I first got my start and It is always such a pleasure to not only get to go home to the gorgeous northwest but to also see old friends and make music at Tacoma Opera.

While I was home a friend from my days at Sarasota Opera contacted me and invited me to join Seattle Opera's Bravo Happy Hour as their guest singer for an evening. We met at the Sorrento Hotel in downtown Seattle and I sang a few arias for this amazing young professional group that loves opera and wants to know more about it. It is always such a great experience singing opera for people in an intimate setting. They get to see up close what you normally don't get to see in the back of a theater.

Later in the week I collaborated with my old choir director from my days in the Tacoma Youth Chorus and went to my alma mater, Charles Wright Academy, to perform a small concert for the elementary school students. They were such a great audience and already knew so much more about opera than I was expecting!

I will be returning to the great northwest for the month of August to perform the role of Cherubino in Mozart's Le nozze di Figaro with the brand new company, City Opera Bellevue. My dear friend Tess Altiveros, who will be singing the countess, and I covered these roles as young artists with Tacoma Opera and I can't wait to finally step into the pants for real! Stay tuned for more updates throughout the summer!

Rodelinda closed on Sunday afternoon and Monday morning we began staging for our Second Stage Project, Mohammed Fairouz's, Sumeida's Song. These next few weeks will be quite the physical, emotional, and musical journey for me and I can't wait to share this moving piece with the Pittsburgh community!

I am thrilled that our Pittsburgh audiences have been loving this show as much as I do!

From: The Pittsburgh Stage Online Magazine- 11/9/14

The smaller parts were in quite capable hands. As Emilia, wife of Iago and Desdemona’s “duenna,” Laurel Semerdjian made the most of the little she had to sing by displaying a mezzo-soprano of lovely, firm quality. She has the fine sense of “repose” so necessary in a role that requires the subtle art of listening and reacting to what is taking place around her. Her appearances in other productions later in the season will be looked forward to, and it is easy to imagine this talented young woman rising to greater heights.

Rehearsals are well under way for Otello and we open in November! I am so happy to be working along side some fantastic colleagues. Verdi really out-did himself with this glorious music and I can't wait to bring it to life. Get your tickets here!

I am thrilled to finally and officially announce that I will be joining the Pittsburgh Opera in the fall as a Resident Artist! I have heard nothing but amazing things about Pittsburgh and am excited to start this new adventure. Please check out my newly updated résumé for specifics on what roles I will be singing and covering in my first year with the company!

I have been so happy to escape the cold in my new home of Chicago for the sunny weather here in Sarasota! Il trovatore opened this last weekend to wonderful reviews and I am so thrilled to be working for such an amazing company. We are in the thick of rehearsals for Wagner's Der fliegende Holländer and Verdi's Jérusalem. Below are a few photos of me with my wonderful colleagues on opening night of Verdi's Il trovatore.

I was so excited and honored to be a part of the 1st birthday party for CultureMAP Dallas. From the light bites brought in from restaurants around the area, to the amazing music being spun by DJ Lucy Wrubel and DJ Tony Schwa, the party was perfect. In a fusion performance bringing opera and dance music together, DJ Lucy Wrubel spun while I sang the Habanera from Carmen. It was the most unexpected and most wonderful way to kick off Dallas Opera's coming season by bringing new life to the classic aria.

For a review of the party and ways to purchase tickets for Dallas Opera's upcoming production of Carmen, click below!

The show at Texas Discovery Gardens went wonderfully! The Women's Chorus of Dallas was incredibly hospitable to me and I felt like one of the gang. The program they sang was stunning and in the setting of the Gardens was even more perfect for a lovely Mother's Day. Thank you to them for the Woman's Voice Award and the opportunity to make music together! The only thing that could have made it better is if my mom were able to come. I attached a picture of us below in honor of her. Happy Mother's Day!!

We were a little concerned about attendance because not all of the food trucks that usually draw big crowds were there...But it was great! A nice sized crowd came out and supported me and the Dallas Opera. I sang a little bit of everything from Carmen to art-song by Vaughan Williams. The lovely Hee-Young Choi accompanied. Videos will be posted soon!

Come out today at 12 noon for a short 30 minute recital outside of the Winspear Opera House in downtown Dallas! I will be singing a few arias and some art song for anyone who will listen! Grab your lunch or visit one of the many food trucks and come on down for a free recital.

Today was our last Dr. Miracle at an Elementary School in Allen, TX. It seemed to go the best way possible. I slammed my finger in the door on my first entrance, my dress got caught under Njabulo's chair and ripped the hem, and when he was fanning me with his napkin he whipped me in the face and I had to put my napkin up to my face to keep from busting out laughing! :-) We had such a great time performing for these kids and after the show some of them sang short operas THEY wrote for us!! All-in-all it was a wonderful way to say goodbye to Veronica and Dr. Miracle.